This story was sent to me via a friend. I thought it was so good that I wanted to share it with all of you. I hope your summer was blessed with wonderful memories.

Enjoy!

 When Henry Ford asked for the cheapest hotel in town… people were stunned.
He had just landed in England — already a billionaire, already one of the most recognized names in the world. But instead of luxury, he walked up to the airport information desk and asked, simply:

“Where’s the cheapest place to stay?” The clerk hesitated. Worn coat. Modest bag. Calm voice. Then he realized who was standing in front of him.

Henry Ford. The man whose name was in every newspaper. The face behind an empire.“Sir… aren’t you Mr. Ford?” he asked, still processing.

Ford nodded. “Yes, I am.”

 Still puzzled, the clerk continued: “I know your son always stays in the best hotels, wears the finest suits. But you—you’re asking for the cheapest room, in an old coat that looks older than you…Why?”

 Ford smiled. Just enough to say everything without saying too much. “Because I don’t need more than a place to sleep. Wherever I stay — I’m still Henry Ford And this coat? It belonged to my father. It keeps me warm. That’s enough.”

 He paused. Then added, quietly: “My son is still learning. He still worries what others think. But I’ve learned to stop paying for approval. I didn’t become wealthy by spending — I became wealthy by understanding what matters, and what doesn’t.”

 A quiet lesson wrapped in humility: True wealth isn’t in what you show — it’s in what you know. You are not your coat, your hotel, or your bank account. You are who you are, wherever you go.

On A Personal Note:
I read this story to my family and most especially my grandchildren after a day of wrangling young children. A silence fell across the room as they loved the story but more importantly learned the lesson.

 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

Refences:
David Attenborough, “Henry Ford’s Humble Approach to Wealth and Success as Summarized by AI,” Facebook (May 8, 2015). https://www.facebook.com/groups/davidattenboroughfanss/permalink/4128920884045721/

 Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

I’m a Christian nurse who helps people navigate the murky waters of healthcare
References:

Author of Wake UP Call 911: It’s Time to Reduce your Risk for A Heart Attack and Stroke (2015) and Helping the Hurting: Nursing Ministry in the Body of Christ (2022).

Paperback copies of both books for sale. Email me for details at:  ask@jenniejohnsonrn.com.

In the past 60 years obesity rates in the US have tripled from 13% in the 1960’s to 43% today. Nearly 70% of Americans are either overweight or obese. Struggling with excess weight is a daunting reality for far too many Americans. Fasting diets have arisen as a possible solution. The question remains: are they helpful in the long run or harmful?

Intermittent Fasting
Alternating episodes of eating and fasting describe the pattern of intermittent fasting (IF). The Leangains Protocol also known as the 16/8 Method is the one most used. Participants fast for 16 hours and eat for 8. Two meals a day are recommended while bingeing is discouraged. Breakfast is the meal most often skipped.

The Eat-Stop-Eat Method involves a 24 hour fast twice a week. While the 5:2 Diet reduces calories to <500 to 600 on 2 days a week.

3 Day Water Fast
Perhaps the most challenging is the 3 Day Water Fast where primarily only water is consumed. In the first 24 hours the glycogen or sugar stored in the liver and muscles is burned for energy. After 24 hours fat is broken down for energy producing ketones as a byproduct. The ketones in the blood create an acidotic state that over time may change gut bacteria, reduce bone health, damage kidneys and lead to increased risk for cancer and other diseases. Keto Flu symptoms include headaches, brain fog and fatigue.

Benefits of Fasting
A review study was done between 2000 and 2019 examining 27 small studies. Most of the study groups had <50 participants and lasted only between 2 and 26 weeks. Validity is required for much larger numbers and a longer length of time. However, it did indicate that there may be a benefit for some intermittent fasting but much more research is needed to better understand the benefits and harms. Some promising benefits include:

—Autophagy may occur after prolonged fasting that begins to repair and renew cells. It may play a role in cancer prevention.

—Reduced risk factors for heart disease by lowering blood pressure and improving abnormal cholesterol numbers.

—Improved insulin effectiveness and glycemic or glucose metabolism.

—Enhanced leptin an appetite suppressant which helps one feel full.

—Weight loss

Dangers of Fasting
Obviously the longer the fast, the greater the risk of adverse consequences. The 3 Day Water Fast is the most dangerous for a variety of reasons but everyone should use caution and speak with a healthcare provider before engaging in any fasting eating pattern. The harms may include:

–Dangerous Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Severe calorie restrictions play havoc with diabetic medications and MUST NOT be attempted without a healthcare provider’s supervision!

—Electrolyte Imbalances: Too much water flushes sodium out with the excess water recommended during the fast. Hyponatremia (low sodium) is a dangerous deadly condition that may result.

—Gout Eruption: Anyone with a history of gout should also speak with a healthcare provider as severe dehydration and calorie restriction enhances uric acid formation.

—Orthostatic Hypotension: Low blood pressure may occur when standing suddenly.

—Nutritional Deficits: Lack of a variety of food depletes key vitamins and minerals needed to enhance immunity and body functions.

—Muscle Loss: In general, the greater the muscle size, the higher the metabolism. Longer term fasting results in muscle loss.

—Dehydration:  Food provides 20% to 30% of daily water hydration and is depleted when fasting.

—Psychological Complications: Exacerbation of eating disorders, discouragement and despair when the weight returns.

Refeeding Syndrome
This problem occurs if too much food is consumed following fasting, especially after a 3 Day water fast. During the fast key nutrients have been depleted and the body adjusted to the starvation state. Adding too much food too fast may induce severe electrolyte abnormalities that alter the function of the heart, lungs, brain and kidneys. It induces a myriad of serious potentially lethal complications. Again, working with a healthcare provider is the safest approach to prevent this potentially lethal complication.

 

What Does Work?
I’ve counseled many people on proper weight management that is maintained over time. The following recommendations have been the most helpful for continued success.

—The Mediterranean Diet: This eating plan remains the most effective and best tasting strategy for people across the world.

—Set Up your Environment for Success: Remove those foods that lead to binge eating. If it’s not good for you it’s not good for your children either. Brian Wansink’s book Mindless Eating describes those unconscious mistakes that sabotage the best of intentions.

—Don’t Drink your Calories: Sweetened coffee, alcoholic beverages and sodas are killers.

—Increase Protein in your Diet: Protein throughout the day helps stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce cravings.

—Reduce your Portion Sizes.

—Eat a Variety of Fruits and Vegetables.

—Increase your Muscle Mass: Bigger muscles increase metabolism while at rest as you burn extra calories.

—Go for a walk, get a good night’s sleep and destress your life.

On A Personal Note:
I’ve maintained a healthy weight all my life. I enjoy the food I love in smaller portions, have added more protein to my diet, and working on increasing my physical activity. This past fall I had a knee replacement. Due to an allergy to the adhesive in the dressing I had to be on Benadryl for a week. It completely reduced my appetite and broke a lifelong sugar craving.

It was all I could do to get the Ensure down that I needed to heal.

However, 9 months later I’ve maintained the 20-pound weight loss. I don’t crave sugar as I did before. I may have a sweet, but it just doesn’t taste the same. Consider a sugar break for 2 weeks. You’ll be shocked how it will also help end your sugar addiction.

Personally, I use a modified 16/8 fast. I eat a very small portion of either a small amount of yogurt, a handful of nuts or a piece of peanut butter toast for breakfast. The protein lingers filling me up until lunch. If’ I’m hungry I eat a palm size of peanuts. Honestly, I’m shocked how it works.

Maintaining a healthy weight is a challenge in a world filled with wonderful food and enormous portion sizes. But you can do it! Try a few of these tips and if you do decide to try a fast, please check with your doctor.

May God bless you as you try some new strategies to maintain a healthier weight over time.

 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

I’m a Christian nurse who helps people navigate the murky waters of healthcare
References:

USA Facts Team, “USA Obesity Rates Tripled Over the last 60 Years,” USA Facts (March 21, 2023). https://usafacts.org/articles/obesity-rate-nearly-triples-united-states-over-last-50-years/

1. Gunners, “Intermittent Fasting 101-The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide, Healthline, Nutrition (May 3, 2024). https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/intermittent-fasting-guide

1. Mitri, “Fasting for 3 Days: Is It a Game -Changer for your Metabolism or a Risk not Worth Taking?” Welltech/Well Hub (January 1, 2025). https://welltech.com/content/fasting-for-3-days/

1. Streit, “7 Keto Risks to Keep in Mind,” Healthline (March 25, 2025). https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dangers-of-keto-diet#5-May-cause-dangerously-low-blood-sugar

Welton et al., “Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss, Systematic Review” Canada Family Physician (February 2020). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7021351/

1. Raman, “Water Fasting: Benefits and Dangers,” Healthline (October 10, 2022).

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/water-fasting

“Refeeding Syndrome,” The Cleveland Clinic (June 6, 2022). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23228-refeeding-syndrome

1. Wansink, Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More than We Think (December 28, 2010). https://www.amazon.com/Mindless-Eating-More-Than-Think/dp/034552688

I’m a Christian nurse who helps people navigate the murky waters of healthcare.

Paperback copies of both books for sale. Email me for details at:  ask@jenniejohnsonrn.com.

Many people appear truly confused about the various levels of healthcare available to people when they get sick. This blog will help end some of that confusion.

Diagnosis

Providers
There are several options for diagnosing medical problems. The best approach is to have a long-term relationship with a healthcare provider, whether it be a physician, a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant. Doctors are the most experienced having gone to medical school for 3 years then several more years of residency within their area of expertise.

Nurses spend 4 years in nursing school and then another 3 years learning how to diagnose and treat common problems. Physician assistants graduate from college from a variety of backgrounds and then spend 2 to 3 years of medical training.

Facilities
Clinics are also another option for care. You may or may not see a different healthcare provider for each visit and are generally more economical.

 Urgent Care centers are satellite emergency rooms that can handle most common, easy to treat problems and are generally cheaper. Hospital Emergency (ER) rooms provide more comprehensive and challenging care. Some ER’s are trauma centers with staff available for very serious acute conditions.

 For rare and unusual medical problems, it’s wise to seek care in a specialty center generally found within larger urban areas. They have physicians who’ve spent a vast number of years dealing with unique, uncommon health concerns.

Treatment
Day Surgery
Many day surgery centers are popping up throughout the US. They typically handle relatively healthy people who need a surgical procedure and is not expected to have serious complications. The operation and discharge usually occur on the same day. It’s much more economical in many cases than a major hospital operating center. However, a hospital is the best place for a major operation needing additional backup or someone who may have serious complications or possible delayed recovery.

Recovery Room 
Whether in a Day Center or Hospital patients will need to recover from the anesthesia while being monitored following surgery. Once awake and stable they’re moved to a holding area in the Day Surgery facility or a surgical floor in the hospital.

 Acute Care
Regular Floor\
When you think of being hospitalized most have visited someone on what’s known as the regular floor. Stable patients who still need registered nurse monitoring and care are admitted until ready for discharge home. The patient may stay overnight or for a few days depending on their procedure and health status.

 Telemetry Unit
This unit is needed when someone has a heart issue or irregular rhythm problem, and needs monitored while recovering. They are generally otherwise stable patients.

Step-Down Unit
Patients discharged from a critical care unit are often sent to the Step-Down unit where there are fewer patients for each registered nurse. These patients are generally monitored for heart irregularities and respiratory complications. They require greater care than the telemetry floor nurses could provide.

 Critical Care (ICU/CCU)
Registered nurses in critical care units generally have 1 or 2 patients who may be very unstable. Some surgical patients following complicated operations may be sent to ICU for monitoring for dangerous complications in the immediate post-op period.

Chronic Care
Long In-house Hospital Care
Some hospitals have a unit for patients with longer term care needs but are not stable enough to be discharged to another center. They work much like a rehabilitation center but with more closely monitoring and nursing care.

 Rehabilitation Care Centers
These centers provide a few weeks or months of nursing care while someone recovers from a medical problem.

Assisted Living Care
Another name for a nursing home is often assisted living. A registered nurse or a technician is available for medication dispensary and nursing support. The patient isn’t able to care for themself at home. All meals are provided, and staff can help with bathing, etc. Some individuals don’t require heavier medical care but need the assistance with meals and medication support.

Independent Living Care
These facilities offer meals while the individual lives in more of an apartment environment. Medication support can be arranged. Rides for activities and social events are available since most people are unable to drive.

In-Home Healthcare Options
Most people would rather remain in their home for as long as possible. Visiting or home healthcare nurses make home visits to assess patients, change dressings, draw blood or even give IV medications. Most insurance covers their time for a while. Physical therapists also make home visits to provide physical therapy. Private companies may supply nursing aide staff for basic care, housekeeping and simple errands.

Palliative Care
Most people are unaware of the palliative care program provided through hospice. When one is suffering from chronic pain nearing the end-of-life palliative nurses can be extremely helpful. They evaluate all medications and work with a doctor to prescribe overall care that improves the quality of life.

My frail mother suffered from anxiety attacks and explosive diarrhea related to her dementia a year before she died. Sometimes she refused to take any medications to help unless a family member was present. The palliative nurse ordered a cream to reduce her anxiety and a Kefir drink for the diarrhea which greatly improved her life.

Hospice
For someone in the last chapter of their life, the hospice team provides excellent care to ease the suffering. The nurses are also highly trained to assist families in the grieving process as well.

On A Personal Note:
The healthcare system in the United States is certainly complicated but there are a few things you can do to simplify your situation. First, the biggest mistake people make is not getting a second opinion when solutions to a problem aren’t getting resolved. Healthcare providers are human. The really good ones that I know are not threatened by another opinion. They welcome it! They want answers to your problem as well.

Secondly, keep escalating the healthcare providers until you get resolution. Reach out to the larger medical centers where they are experienced at dealing with what I call the weird and the rare.

My mother-in-law had miserable abdominal hives for 6 months. None of the specialists within her city could find a cause despite innumerable tests. It was definitely a weird and rare phenomenon. We took her to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In one day, she saw a dermatologist for the rash, a hematologist for the dangerously high platelets and a neurologist for her dementia. The high platelets were causing the rash. A new medication reduced them, and the rash disappeared. Her brain scan showed extensive damage and the cause of her frequent accidents. He gave her the news about no further driving.

Finally, while we all want to have our surgery the closest to home as possible, sometimes that makes life more complicated. Smaller hospitals and day surgery centers are staffed for common procedures and problems. But if you are one of those weird and rare situations you may be better off doing more homework and getting your procedure done at a major medical center where they have more experienced staff to care for your strange problem.

May God bless you with wisdom on finding excellent providers to care for you and yours…

If anyone of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:5)

I’m a Christian nurse who helps people navigate the murky waters of healthcare.

Paperback copies of both books for sale. Email me for details at:  ask@jenniejohnsonrn.com.